1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
The objectives of the project are to (1) assemble a collection of natural accessions and 2,000 homozygous T-DNA lines; (2) conduct a detailed phenotypic characterization of the collection using a phenomic approach, and (3) begin detailed characterization of a select group of mutants and natural accessions.

1b.Approach (from AD-416)
This project builds upon a collection of insertional mutants (T-DNA lines) and natural accessions of Brachypodium that we have already assembled. We will use PCR to identify homozygous mutants lines from segregating populations. We will then use high-throughput, non-destructive phenotyping (phenomics) to characterize the population of insertional mutants and natural accessions. This analysis is expected to identify variation in biomass, growth rate, water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency and other traits relevant to bioenergy crop development. Based on this data we will select a small subset of lines for more detailed characterization including molecular complementation analysis to determine if the T-DNA insertion is responsible for the observed phenotype. All phenomic data and homozygous mutant lines will be made freely available to the research community. Documents Reimbursable with DOE. Log 38518.

3.Progress Report

The goal of this project is to use high throughput, non-destructive phenotyping (phenomics) to characterize Brachypodium T-DNA mutants and inbred lines. During this first year of the project we established the formal agreements with CSIRO. In turn, CSIRO hired staff and began pilot experiments to learn how to grow Brachypodium under their conditions. At our location, we began to develop methods to identify homozygous T-DNA lines from our existing T-DNA collection. The project was coordinated through monthly conference calls and our Australian collaborator visited our site for two weeks. Progress is on target with project milestones.